Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today expressed her
concerns after it emerged that small amounts of unapproved GM rice had found
its way into the US feed and food chain. Ms McDonald said that "such
contamination was reflective of the unpredictability and instability of GM
products".

Speaking today Ms McDonald said:

"The revelation that traces of unapproved genetically modified rice were
detected in both Missouri and Arkansas is a worrying development. It remains
unclear as to how it developed in the 2005 harvest and how widely it has
spread but clearly there are warning signs emerging as to the
unpredictability and instability of GM products.

"The European Commission must monitor this situation closely, however it is
difficult to have faith in an EU Commission which is unashamedly pro-GM and
in fact has given the go ahead for the American company Monsanto to sell GM
maize in the 26 counties for use in animal feed.

"Sinn Féin has long warned of the potential dangers associated with GM
products. Research released in Britain last year showed that some GM crops
can cause harm to other life forms. Results of a trial on a herbicide
resistant oilseed rape had confirmed that the herbicide used had harmful
effects on other plants, birds and insects.

"Sinn Féin favours a GM free Europe. It is my belief that the majority of
Irish consumers are also opposed to the introduction of GMOs to Ireland.
Farmers are genuinely concerned about the introduction of GM seed, food and
animal foodstuffs into this country, thus shattering Ireland's international
image as a clean green society. Environmental groups have consistently
warned that GM foods have not been adequately tested to ascertain their
long-term effects on human health." ENDS